A Modern Parable of the Sower

About a year ago a young servant girl was entrusted with many little seeds that, if well-tended, would turn into succulent, juicy fruit. She couldn’t wait to share this precious gift with the other servant girls she was surrounded by. She couldn’t give them all the seeds at once because they grew at different times, so over the course of a year she slowly offered the girls different seeds.

Some of them, after seeds were offered, left them sitting on the kitchen counter and immediately the cleaning crew came along and threw them away.

Others immediately received the seeds, but when the seeds didn’t grow right away, they threw them back at the girl and accused her of offering bad seeds.

Then others who received the seeds went quickly and planted them. Yet stress, worry, distractions, and desires for other things became their focus and the seeds never got watered. They assumed that someone else would water it, or that the rain would be enough. At the end of the year they went to collect their fruit and what was there was blackened and rotten, and could not be eaten.

But yet the others took every seed offered and took great care of them. At the end of the year they collected a basketful of the most colorful, large, beautiful, and exotic fruit the eye had ever seen.

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I am that young servant girl, who, almost a year ago was so excited to become a house director for MA women. It's hard to believe it's been that long and my time is almost over with them. Leading those women is one of the most beautiful gifts I've been given and I love each of them dearly. Even while there have been tough seasons, I'm going to miss them a great deal. And I can only trust God that the seeds He's given me, that I have in turn given them, will turn into good fruit at the end.

They have grown to love God deeply this year, and they know that they are loved deeply by God. Those girls have changed me and they have blessed me, and I pray that they would continue on this lifelong journey of Selflessness, of surrendering and loving deeply, of walking in the fullness of God's grace.

~Your "Fearless House Director"

One Year Ago Today

Today is July 2nd. A milestone date. It was one year ago today that Rob and I started dating! It was a big deal leading up to it. I had turned him down twice already - I wasn't interested in dating anyone, at all, and I wasn't quick to make an exception. Then after seeking the Lord, asking for peace and clear direction, the Lord spoke very clearly to my heart, and simply gave me the word, "ready." So I began to allow a deeper friendship with Rob to develop. Then on July 2, 2009, he planned a scavenger hunt for me that evening. He gave me one little paper clue, then off I went finding more clues, taking pictures along the way, the last clue leading me back to his house where he had dinner waiting for me. That night he asked me if I was ready to begin a courtship...and I said yes! Guess third time is a charm, eh?

There are so many things I'm thankful for when I think about this season that began a year ago. First off - I'm so thankful Rob didn't just give up on me when I said no the first two times! He believed he had clear direction from the Lord, and Rob trusted in Him the entire time. He was patient, but he didn't just quit on me. That says a lot about his character, his faithfulness, that he's not just gonna quit on me when things get tough in the future.

Second - I'm SOOOOO glad I sought God, and allowed Him to interrupt my plans for my life. He had something far better for me, but I had to trust Him. My life would be dramatically different had I not trusted Him about this.

I'd always wondered what it would be like to be with someone for an entire year. This may sound terrible, but I always wondered how people didn't get bored with each other after that long. Haha gosh, the naiveté. Well, I'm definitely not bored with him, that's for sure! In fact, last night I was reading through some early journal entries and began to weep and just thank God for His grace and mercy. I know I don't deserve what I've been given, and I am simply overwhelmed at God's love for me.

I am so thankful for this past year, and for God's sustaining grace during this year long separation. It's truly amazing to look back on it all, and I'm looking forward to the time that lies ahead.

-The future Mrs. Griffioen